Possible steps include price controls, subsidies for shoppers, a crackdown on hoarding and price gouging as well as a system whereby mayors are made responsible for a basket of food items, the China Securities Journal reported.

Those found speculating on corn or cotton will also be punished severely, it added.

"Price increases, particularly overly rapid food price increases, are the main economic problem faced by the country at present," the report cited an unnamed source as saying.

"The policies that are being considered aim to contain the momentum and will be delivered in combination as a one-two punch," it added.